Optimization Editor

WOOF, WOOF, WOOF! ALL HAIL UGA IX!: Today, on the hallowed ground between the hedges at the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium, longtime stand-in UGA bulldog mascot Russ will assume the formal title of the university’s mascot, becoming ninth in the line of Ugas, or Uga IX.

When that happens, it’s a safe bet that Athenians Kim and Tony Durden, and their 10-year-old son, Evan, will look on the event with a special pride.

As you’ll recall, a couple of weeks ago in this space, columnist Dink NeSmith wrote about Michael Davenport, the artist who sets up shop on downtown Athens sidewalks and draws Bulldog-themed sketches. The remarkable thing is that Davenport draws with felt-tip markers clenched in his mouth, having lost his arms in an electrical accident when he was 13 years old.

As NeSmith’s column was published, the Durden family met Davenport and asked him for a portrait of Russ. As a result, the family is now in proud possession of the first-ever portrait of UGA’s new mascot by Davenport. Here’s how Kim Durden described the encounter, in an email to the Banner-Herald:

My family met Mr. Davenport for the first time yesterday, August 31st, 2012. It was our 6th anniversary and when we saw him we knew we wanted to get a portrait of the newest UGA from him. He and his wife are wonderful Christian people that get by day-by-day. He deserves a LOT more recognition than he has already. I have attached a copy of our 1st edition, 1st ever portrait of Russ turned UGA IX done by Michael Davenport. If you could possibly run another story about him during football season, with this picture attached, I’m sure he would appreciate the extra business.

Consider it done, Durden family. And thanks for sharing the picture of your sketch.

LET’S DO SOME MATH: Before I left town earlier this week for a few days of vacation, Athens-Clarke County’s mayor and commission had approved a $130,000 outlay of proceeds from a 1 percent local sales tax for sculpture that will be suspended from the roof of the Classic Center’s new atrium. That decision has left any number of people in high dudgeon about what they consider to be wasteful extravagance with their money.

So, let’s run some numbers, shall we? According to the census, the population of Athens-Clarke County is just shy of 117,000 people — and, yeah, that does (or should, according to census counting guidelines), include college students living away from home. So, assuming that all of those 117,000 people make purchases in Athens-Clarke County (or in the case of young children, have purchases made on their behalf) the total hit, on a per capita basis, for the sculpture is just a shade over $1.

But, let’s not forget that some sales taxes are paid by people who don’t live in the community. thus driving the local per capita share of the sculpture’s cost to below $1.

And, yeah, I know there will be ongoing operation and maintenance costs that won’t come from sales tax proceeds, but I can’t imagine those costs being at all excessive.